Adventure into Fear (franchise)

Adventure into Fear is a horror-themed anthology comic book series published by Marvel Comics, primarily during the 1970s. The series is notable for introducing the character of Man-Thing in its tenth issue, who subsequently became a recurring feature. Prior to Man-Thing's arrival, the comic largely focused on standalone horror stories, often showcasing monsters and supernatural elements.

The title debuted in 1970 and initially served as a platform for various horror tales, many of which were written and drawn by a rotating stable of creators. These early stories typically adhered to established horror tropes, featuring narratives of curses, hauntings, and encounters with bizarre creatures.

With issue #10, writer Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow introduced Dr. Theodore "Ted" Sallis, who, fleeing from A.I.M. agents, injected himself with an experimental serum and crashed into a swamp, transforming into the Man-Thing. This marked a significant shift in the comic's direction. The Man-Thing, a sentient swamp creature, became the central character, and the stories began to explore themes of environmentalism and the consequences of scientific interference.

Following Conway's departure, writers such as Steve Gerber further developed the Man-Thing's mythology and explored the character's connection to the Nexus of All Realities, a mystical gateway to different dimensions. This broadened the scope of the series, incorporating elements of fantasy and philosophical introspection into the horror narrative.

Adventure into Fear ran for 19 issues, concluding in 1973. Despite its relatively short run, the comic left a lasting impact due to the creation of the Man-Thing and its contribution to Marvel's horror comics output during the Bronze Age. The Man-Thing went on to star in his own self-titled series and has made numerous appearances in other Marvel titles, solidifying his place as a significant character within the Marvel Universe. The Adventure into Fear name itself has occasionally been revisited in various anthology formats or as part of larger Marvel event tie-ins, leveraging the brand recognition established by the original series.